How old are the Swiss Federal Railways. All about Swiss railways

Today we will talk about trains in Switzerland. I am a big fan of railways, for me, stations, platforms and locomotives from childhood add up to the romance of travel, which no air transport is able to reproduce. Sometimes, because of this romance, I embark on strange adventures - for example, there was a case. But riding Swiss trains is a pleasure, it's fast, beautiful and comfortable.

Like this locomotive? At the end of the post are pictures of different trains in the country

And most importantly, it is almost always on schedule, unlike the neighboring one.

Regular readers of my blog have no doubt noticed my constant unhealthy admiration for the Japanese railroad system. I still believe that the Japanese are ahead of the rest in the issue of rail transport, however, the Swiss are not so far behind them. The whole country is carefully covered with a web of railway tracks:

On this map, the yellow lines represent bus routes. Railroads are marked in red. Most of the trains in the country belong to the state railway company with a beautiful name...

1. "SBB CFF FFS", nine consonants that can be found throughout the country. This is an abbreviation of the name, meaning "Swiss Federal Railways" in three of the main official languages: German, French and Italian. Every three letters represent an abbreviation of the same words in a separate language. (The fourth official language of the country, Romansh, is not used in the official name, otherwise "VFS" would have to be added to the inscriptions.)

2. All inscriptions on the system are also duplicated in the three main languages, and also in English. So you can not be afraid to misunderstand and miss something. Popular cities are also announced, including in English.

3. If Swiss trains have any drawback, it is their high cost. A ticket between not so distant cities can cost about $50. Need to travel across the country? It will already be $100 or more.

4. Fortunately for us tourists, the country has a railway (and not only) subscription called the Swiss Travel Pass. It is sold for 3, 4, 8 and 15 days and covers most transports throughout Switzerland. It can be bought in first or second class. An adult second class pass costs from 216 francs (for three days) to 458 (15 days). As you can see, it becomes more profitable if you take it for longer. The subscription can be bought at railway ticket offices (including the airports of Zurich and Geneva), it entitles you to free travel on trains, urban public transport systems.

5. With it, you can even take a ride on the historic ferry boats on Lake Geneva!

In short, if you are planning a trip in which you will need to move around the country a lot, I advise you to purchase this subscription. It is not that cheap, but in the end it comes out cheaper than individual tickets. Plus, you will also save a lot of time, since you will not have to stand in line at the box office every time, but you can safely jump onto the next train in the right direction.

All train routes are in google maps, so finding a train to the desired station is not difficult. Also, SBB CFF FFS has released separate applications for phones that also allow you to plan a route (there are versions for Android and iOS).

An exception to this subscription are various kinds of lifts to the tops of the mountains. You need to buy tickets for them, but Swiss Travel Pass holders receive a 50% discount. , and gondolas are included in this category of transport.

6. The main thing, if you bought a second-class Travel Pass, is not to confuse it and not to sit in the first one by mistake. Classes are easy to distinguish: each car has a white number "1" or "2" written at the entrance.

7. Like its German neighbors, in Switzerland most intercity trains are double-decker. Red and white gamma is the corporate identity for the compositions owned by SBB CFF FFS.

8. Luxurious first class seating is available on the first and second floors. It looks like this:

9. I didn’t travel in first class, and I don’t advise you, without an appropriate ticket. And in general, it’s better not to ride here without a ticket - on almost every trip in a week I came across an inspector who carefully checked all the tickets. Here they actively fight with hares.

10. However, the second class is also very comfortable - there are comfortable soft seats, and there is an opportunity to work during long journeys.

11. The table folds out to make it convenient to sit down and get up, but if you wish, you can increase its area to put a computer.

13. In general, what is very pleasing about these trains is the variety of seating configurations. The Swiss understand that different passengers have different needs. Someone wants to work quietly, someone wants to look out the window alone, and someone wants to communicate in a friendly company. There is a place for all these people on Swiss trains. For example, here is a part of the car suitable for large parties (this is also 2nd class):

I have seen more than once how this was occupied by cheerful groups of teenagers, who, by the way, calmly drive from one city to another without adult supervision. These guys were about 13 years old.

14. For younger passengers, there are special play areas on the trains. Parents can take their children there so that they are not bored during long trips. This is good for everyone: the child is having fun, the parents do not have to invent what to do with them, and the passengers in the rest of the cars are calm.

I confess that I saw this on trains a few years ago, for some reason I did not come across these platform cars on this trip. I hope they haven't been canceled - it's a really cool thing.

15. And on trains (though not all) there are special vestibules for bicycles.

16. Inside them are special mounts where you can attach bikes, skis and more.

17. Some attach baby strollers here.

18. Well, what self-respecting European train can do without a dining car?

19. On double-decker long-distance trains, restaurants are usually at the top.

20. Everything is as it should be here: tablecloths, normal chairs that can be moved, a waiter and a menu. They even pour. You sit, eat, and Swiss beauties run through the window. However, about them a little later.

21. On the lower floor there is a cafe, for a less formal setting. Here you can have a quick bite to eat (if you go not so far).

22. Let's take a look at train stations and stations, because they also greatly affect the overall feeling of the railway system ... Here is the main station of Zurich - a huge building with high vaults, under which the works of sculptors are hung. There are several more underground levels.

23. The station is so huge that a market is sometimes held in its building! Farmers all over Europe set up tents right at the station and bring their goods for sale.

24. For example, fruits and vegetables are sold for some granny from a newspaper, and a representative of the BioLand farming group. It all looked so appetizing that I could not restrain myself and bought fresh berries from him.

25. And this is the station in Bern (yes, in the very one where the drunken air of freedom played a cruel joke with Professor Pleischner). Gracefully rounded canopies over the escalators to the platforms are made of wood. Looks very cool.

26. There are monitors on the platforms showing when and where the next train will be, where it will stop on the platform, and where the first and second class cars will be located, and where is the restaurant.

27. Yes, every station has a clock. Preferably on a tower. After all, anyway.

28. Even the smallest stations have a clock tower!

The correct time is a very important thing here, since the entire railway system of the country is debugged, like an accurate clockwork. The train schedule is designed so that most transfers last no more than ten minutes (often five!) This takes into account which platform both trains arrive on to give passengers a chance to walk in a normal (but not relaxed!) step from one train to another. In rare cases, when there are minor delays, the train you want to transfer to will also wait a couple of minutes.

29. But for railway platforms, the company ordered a special watch model. This movement and design was developed by the Swiss engineer Hans Hilfiker in 1944. Yes, you heard right! All over the world the war was going on, and the neutral Swiss were improving the railway clock. (On the other hand, why not, if the USSR could!) In short, the Swiss railway clock has since become a national symbol, and an example of good laconic design. They are even exhibited here in New York at MoMA.

It turns out that this watch is so famous that Apple decided to steal it when it upgraded the style of its iPhone firmware. In version 6 of iOS, released in 2012, the clock icon was suspiciously Swiss-designed, down to the circle at the end of the red second hand. The Swiss filed a lawsuit against the global manufacturer of gadgets, although the case did not go to court. Apple entered into an agreement allowing them to use this design. The exact amount of the transaction is unknown, but analysts believe that the Swiss received about 20 million francs for using the famous dial.

By the way, the feature of this watch is not only in appearance. The mechanism also has an interesting and non-obvious feature: at the end of each minute, the second hand is slightly delayed in order to synchronize with all other clocks on the station. Thus, all clocks at the station always show exactly the same time.

30. Yes, Swiss trains are comfortable and run on schedule, however this is what we expect from all normal trains (unfortunately it doesn't always work that way). But where they exceed expectations is in the beauty of the scenery outside the window. Sitting in the car at the window, you can watch green hills, high mountains, blue lakes, and small towns with pointed churches rush past you.

31. Often the railway is laid right a couple of meters from the shore of the lake.

32. Then it seems that this whole magnificent landscape was created especially for you - for the passenger. For example, driving along Lake Geneva is a pleasure, especially on a clear day. On the far side you can see the French coast, where the Alps rise.

33. Even if your train is not going along the water's edge, it's still beautiful. You will enjoy the view of green fields and vineyards.

34. And if you turn into the mountains, you can shoot snow-capped peaks right from the window of your train.

Switzerland is rich in natural beauty, and the railways are one of the best ways to see it all. Where else is it so beautiful outside the car window? . But it's hard to pick a favorite here.

35. Let me show you a few different types of trains that I came across during a week of active use of the Swiss railways. I'll start with the cutest - this handsome locomotive has already been on the title photo, but it's not a sin to show it again!

By the way, if someone knows the model of this or other trains, write in the comments, I will add information to the post. And then I'm a complete noob in this regard.

36. I have already shown you a double-decker long-distance train, but this is a more regional one that rides.

37. There are also very small trains, more like trams. They run on narrow gauge tracks. It was on this that we rode to.

38. By the way, not all trains in the country belong to the federal railway agency. There are also private lines. And if SBB CFF FFS cars are usually red and white, then private companies choose other colors for their liveries. For example, BLS green trains run in the Bern district.

39. But I saw such dark blue trains near Lausanne.

40. But such a blue-yellow composition raised us.

41. In general, on such private narrow-gauge lines leading to the mountains, you can see very nice trailers. Moreover, it is clear that many of them are quite old designs.

42. Obviously, private companies do not throw out all the outdated cars, but leave a few in the form of a museum on the rails. And what if, why not here?

43. Look how lovely!

44. The most important trick in Swiss trains is to sit by the window or at the beginning or at the end of the train. On the turns, you will be able to photograph not only the beautiful landscape outside the window, but also the tail / head of your composition, which will be in perfect harmony with the surrounding greenery.

Honestly, I can't imagine how you can not love trains. And if you love them, and are not going to Japan yet, then Switzerland is the best country to ride them.

"You're so beautiful!" That's what guys say to their girls. They smile shyly. Or they laugh out loud, like me, for example. So, I want to say that the Swiss railway is beautiful! Probably, you will decide that this is not quite an appropriate epithet to describe trains and rails. Ah, if you watched the beautiful panoramas of mountains, meadows and waterfalls opening from the train window, you would agree that such a trip is not just moving from point A to point B. It is a portion of real aesthetic pleasure.

Swiss railway - general information

The bulk of transportation is carried out by the state-owned company SBB-CFF-FFS. Switzerland, compared to its European neighbors, is a rather miniature country. But passengers are transported by about 4,000 wagons, and the length of the railway tracks is 13,000 kilometers. As I said, SBB is a monopoly, but there are several other companies, both private and international, that make transportation. And this variety of trains and companies can sometimes confuse a tourist at the station. You don't immediately know which train to take.

Swiss Railways is known for its panoramic routes. I can sing odes to them for a long time, but it will be a little later. First, I’ll tell you about the main types of trains in Switzerland.

Swiss trains

As I said above, there are many different categories of trains in Switzerland. All without exception are very comfortable. There is no reason to warn against traveling on any type of train. But first, I’ll tell you the basic information about the compositions, it will help to form a first opinion about them.

As the theater begins with a hanger, so the Swiss train begins with the entrance to the carriage. To get there, you need to press the button located on the door. When exiting, proceed in the same way.

Trains in Switzerland are single-decker and double-decker. Most often, it is assumed that the first floor should be quiet (without loud conversations of passengers), there are even special badges on the doors, but this rule is not strict. By the way! In a double-decker train, the transition between cars takes place on the second floor. The cart with food is transported there. However, on the first floor, special sensors light up and passengers can go upstairs to buy snacks and drinks.

The carriages are divided into first and second classes. In the first tickets are much more expensive. However, in my opinion, there is no point in overpaying for a class. The main difference of the second class is that there can be one seat more in a row. The seating arrangement will be "2 + 2" across the aisle. There may be tables between some of the seats.

In the first class, the arrangement of passenger seats is carried out according to the “2 + 1” scheme. Well, they are a little more comfortable. One tourist once joked that the only difference between classes is the colored stripe on the seats in the first class.

Some trains have dining cars. You can always find out about their availability in the schedule. A visit to such a restaurant is a very tempting idea, I tell you. Drinking wine and staring dreamily at the landscapes flickering outside the window is just great!

If you don’t want to stomp into the dining car, then a train employee will come to your rescue, delivering drinks and snacks on a cart.

Oh, I can’t help but tell you the story of why I love European trains so much and am still afraid to wander in search of a restaurant car, a buffet or a working domestic outlet. It was about 15 years ago. The scene of action is an intercity train that has seen even the best years of Khrushchev. For my important children's business, for some reason I needed to go to the next car. Having asked my mother for leave, I set off on such a long journey with my head held high. She went out into the vestibule without incident. Further, with grief in half, she opened the doors to go to another car. She took a step, closing her eyes and trying not to look at the gap between the cars, through which the rails could be seen. And then the doors treacherously slam behind me, and the next ones do not open. And I find myself blocked in this "accordion". Pulling on the handles of one or the other door did nothing. I already imagined how one car would disconnect from the other and ... At that moment, a man opens the door to the vestibule of my car. Saved!

The years have passed, but some fear remains. She was also afraid, when leaving the train, to fall into the gap between it and the platform. But the European squads do not hide such dangers. The transition between cars, which is called the sweet word "soufflé", is completely safe and does not cause any negative emotions. And there are convenient steps to exit the train. All for the people!

Such a strategically important object as a toilet is located in each car. There are special buttons on the floor, on the faucet or on the wall, by pressing which you can turn on the flush, water and soap. And he even works at stations. Oh, I immediately remember moments from my rail travels in my homeland, where toilets could be closed for an hour before and after stops. And for lovers of tea and coffee, this is almost a tragedy.

There are sockets near the seats. Wi-Fi too, but not on all trains. You need to specify this moment in the schedule. If you are bike lovers like me, then some trains have special cars for them. But again, you need to look at the schedule. There such trains are marked with a special badge.

Swiss carriages are also adapted for people with disabilities - the platforms are located on the same level as the carriage, there are retractable steps, more spacious toilets. Summing up, I want to say that Swiss trains are one of the most comfortable in the world.

Train categories

Now let's move on to the main categories of compositions. In order not to repeat ten times what each category of train looks like (and they are very similar), I will attach photos. However, I want to note that the "inner world" of the car may differ from route to route, and also depend on the date of release of the train and the manufacturer.

In Russia, the railway is used exclusively as a means of transportation. But Switzerland is a completely different matter. Sometimes a train ride turns into a real adventure! The main thing is not to die of delight! :) Just kidding, of course. I want to tell you about some of the most popular panoramic routes.

Panoramic routes

What is it all about? You will ride in a comfortable train with huge windows. And mountains, valleys, bridges, passes will flash behind the glass ... Headphones and a brochure are attached to each seat in the car, so you will not only enjoy the views, but also learn a lot of interesting things. And, of course, not without food and drinks.

Eh, hold me three, I want to jump on the train, but that's not all ...

Well, okay, thoughts materialize. Go!

Glacier Express

He is Glacier Express. Drive almost 300 bridges and almost 100 tunnels in 8 hours? Yes Easy! This route connects the St. Moritz express and. You can, of course, leave somewhere earlier, but it’s better not to. Seriously. Miss a lot of beautiful things. During the trip, you can see the Grand Swiss Canyon, the Oberalp Pass, the Matterhorn mountain, the nature reserves of the Graubünden canton, alpine meadows.

By the way:

golden pass

Known as Golden Pass. Such a small life. Why is that? Yes, because during the trip you can see a lot of things, so many different pictures will flash before your eyes. A train travels from Lucerne through the Brünig Pass, passes Interlaken and Zweisiemen and ends its journey in Montreux (). The journey will take five and a half hours. A stop is planned in Rosinier, during which you can see the magnificent Grand Chalet. Mountains, lakes, waterfalls, wooden houses - a dream trip, in a word.

Adviсe:

Bernina Express

Such a journey from winter to summer. You can drive from Switzerland to Italy and back. The route connects the cities of Chur and Tirano. This trip is not for the faint of heart, as the train will make some climbs at a 70-degree incline! It's almost like a right angle! Scary? But for the entire time of the existence of the express, not a single accident has happened, passengers arrive at the end point alive, healthy and without nervous shocks, which is the most important thing. :) During this trip you will pass almost 200 bridges and cross more than 50 tunnels. The train covers the distance in one direction in 2 hours 30 minutes. In summer, you can get from Tirano to Lugano by bus.

Life hacks:

• All strategically important information about the trip can be found. There is also an opportunity to book places for travel, and this must be done without fail.

Voralpen Express

From Lucerne, the train leaves for Romanshorn, passing Lake Lucerne, the Pilatus Mountains, the Sattel swamps, Lake Zurich, Rapperswil Castle along the way. And this is not all that you can see on the road! The journey takes about three hours, and trains run every hour.

Important:

chocolate train

This route is designed specifically for the sweet tooth. There are two options here: ride in a first-class Pullman car or choose a modern panoramic car for a trip. Personally, I prefer the first option. I am a connoisseur of all antiques. There is a train from Montreux to Broc, and then to Gruyères and back. Trip to Swiss Chocolate Train- not a passive pastime. You will visit the castle and the Gruyère cheese factory, the Nestle factory and taste delicious chocolate there. The duration of this trip will be nine hours.

Note:

These are not all panoramic routes in Switzerland! To list them would take forever. The Lavaux Line, the Jungfrau Railway, the Wilhelm Tell Express, the Palm Express… Dreams, dreams!

I told you the basic information about panoramic routes. I did not dwell on the cost of tickets, since you can find the most up-to-date information on the pages of the sites, links to which I gave you.

Swiss Travel System - travel card system

You know, the standard cost of a train ticket in Switzerland is quite high. I drove to one city, swept to the second, drove to eat chocolate in the third and that's it - the budget is over! "Today I eat alms" - as the head of my group at the university used to say. :) So, in order to eat fully while traveling and travel all over the country up and down, you need to take advantage of the Swiss travel system.

What kind of "beast" is this Swiss Travel System? This is the name of a special preferential travel system for tourists. Not just a system, a system, I would say! This is as much as 29 thousand kilometers of tracks (and not only railways). Tourists can take advantage of the STS when traveling by bus and water transport.

The main advantages of the Swiss Travel System:

• Travel "all in one". As I said, one pass is suitable for travel by train, bus and ship.
• You can use public transport for free in 75 cities.
• And visit hundreds of museums for free.
• And also get a 50% discount on many mountain routes.
• Bonuses. Who doesn't love bonuses? You can get good discounts on excursions, hotel accommodation, city tours.

With the benefits, everything is clear. Now I turn to the main types of travel STS.

Swiss Travel Pass

Get yourself this pass and enjoy life! After all, having it in your pocket, you can ride for free by train, bus, and enjoy invigorating boat trips.

Features of the Swiss Travel Pass:

Swiss Travel Pass Flex

It also includes free travel across the country on three modes of transport, visits to museums and so on. But it has several features:

Swiss Transfer Ticket

This type of ticket is suitable for those who want to experience all the delights of a ski holiday or holiday in a resort. With this travel card, you can get from the border railway station or airport to the desired resort and back.

There are several features of this pass:

Swiss Half Fare Card

If you came to Switzerland for more than a few days, then you need this type of travel card. With it, you will receive a 50% discount on all types of transport within a month. Peculiarities:

• 50% discount on public transport trips in 75 cities.
• The ticket price is only 112 EUR for a first class carriage.

Swiss Family Card

If you are traveling to Switzerland with your family, then you must definitely remember to apply for this card. It is provided free of charge to all four categories of travel cards that I have listed above.

Ticket features:

• Children under 16 traveling in the company of at least one of the parents of Swiss Family Card holders travel free of charge.
• If children travel by public transport on their own, they receive a 50% discount.
• This card is absolutely free. It can be obtained along with other categories of tickets.

Important information regarding STS passes

Tickets

Having dealt with the world of Swiss Passes, I suggest moving on to tickets that are available to both locals and tourists. And which you will definitely encounter. To begin with, I’ll tell you what the ticket looks like and decipher all the symbols on it. At the time of my trip, tickets were in the form of pink and blue cards.

Ticket features:

• At the top of the ticket is the expiration date. The ticket can only be used for one specific day.
• Further, the route, departure and arrival stations are indicated in capital letters.
• Also, the ticket may indicate which city your train goes through. And you need to go through this city. For example: you are traveling from Zurich to Interlaken, and the ticket says that the train goes through Lucerne. But you looked at the schedule and saw that there is a train to Interlaken via, which will cover this distance faster. You might think that there is no difference in which cities the train passes through. The main thing is that the points of departure and arrival coincide. And here it is not. Lucerne is indicated on the ticket, so you need to get through Lucerne. If you go through, you will be considered a free rider and receive such a hefty fine.
• The arrows on the ticket indicate whether it is valid in one or two directions.
• A large number 1 or 2 indicates the class of the wagon.
• The price of the ticket is indicated in the lower right corner.

Ticket prices depend on the number of kilometers you travel by train. In order to save money, you can buy tickets at special rates.

Click&Rail

This type of ticket can be purchased much cheaper, but they start selling two days before the trip, and their number is limited.

Click&Rail has the following features:

The ticket is not available on all routes. The trains on which Click&Rail operates are indicated on the ticket.

Sparbillette

These discounted tickets go on sale two weeks before the train's departure. And they also only apply to certain routes and trains. You can search for Sparbillette here.

I have given you the basic information regarding the tickets. I have not described all of their types, because if you do this, you can compose a whole book. And this book will need constant updating, because the information tends to become outdated. So, go to the official website of the Swiss Railways and find out the most up-to-date information there.

Travel Features

Tickets are tickets, but there's also a train car and a little cart that you need to know before you travel. In this section, I will tell you about the schedule, delays, fines, luggage storage and baggage.

Schedule

The schedule is built in such a way that you can leave in any direction every 30-60 minutes. It is best to plan your trip using the SBB website. The timetable is up-to-date and the prices are for tickets.

If there is no access to the network, then, for example, several computers are installed at the Zurich train station, with which you can find out the necessary information and print it out. Also near the ticket offices there are brochures with the schedule. The station board shows the train schedule for about 30 minutes ahead.

being late

Train delays are quite rare in Switzerland. But possible. Serious delays are only possible due to accidents or emergencies. Closer to 6 pm there may be small errors in the arrival of trains (literally by 5 minutes). If the direction is touristic (for example, in the mountains), then the next regional train can also be delayed so that tourists have time to board it.

By the way, I approve of this practice. Once my train was 10 minutes late, and the time to connect was negligible. You should have seen my satisfied face when I saw that the next train was waiting for its passengers. “Oh, yes, these trains are constantly late, you can get off ten minutes late,” - if in the CIS countries passengers often say something like that, then in Switzerland, forget to even think about stopping somewhere on the way to the station. And then you will remain a white handkerchief after the train to wave.

fines

This is a nightmare, comrades! The Swiss railway is merciless to all free riders. Too much, and now I'll tell you why. “And it was better before!” I never liked this phrase. I thought that saying such things was the lot of whiners. Yes, and now I think so, except for the moment with the purchase of a train ticket. A few years ago, tickets could be bought on the train, but now this is no longer possible. All tickets must be purchased before the door slams behind the passenger. Now imagine the situation: the ticket offices are closed (or they are not), the ticket machine is not working, and the desired train is about to leave. And you need to leave! you hop on the train and the controller comes up. You try to explain the situation, but he is unshakable, unshakable, because there are no exceptions in the rules for reasons why a ticket was not purchased.

Have you heard the horror story about the British tourist who got on a Swiss train and never returned home? Just kidding, he returned home, but in a very bad mood. And it was like that. The passenger bought the ticket through the SBB mobile app a few minutes before the train's departure. Payment confirmation came to the mobile application a few minutes after the train left. And the stubborn controller refused to accept such a ticket, and also issued a fine, since the ticket, in his opinion, was bought after the passenger entered the car.

For greater persuasiveness, I will give you a table with the amounts of fines:

And, of course, you also need to pay the cost of the ticket.

In general, my advice to you - do not enter the train without tickets. However, it would be unfair to say that such harsh measures are always applied to tourists. It is not uncommon for controllers to be more lenient towards foreign travelers. Well, it is understandable: it is difficult to delve into all these railway intricacies. But it is better to travel with a ticket in your pocket on the right train than to count on a pardon from the controller.

Ticket composting

During my trips, inspectors passed through the train car and did it themselves. If there is no exact travel time on the ticket, it is still better to validate it in special machines.

I look at the ticket, and if I see that it can be driven again (for example, along the same route during the day), then for me this is always a signal for composting. Otherwise, the conductors will think that I was going to ride five times on one ticket.

Luggage storage

They are available at all stations in major cities. In villages, of course, this can be a problem. The cells vary in size: the smaller it is, the cheaper it will be to store luggage. The cells are arranged in several rows. You need:

• approach;
• choose the appropriate box size;
• throw a coin, the denomination of which is displayed near the lock in the receiver;
• fold your luggage;
• close the door and turn the key.

The chamber will be closed within 24 hours.

Baggage

If you don't want to walk around skewed from the weight of your suitcases, they can be sent to the desired train station or airport using the Schnelles Reisegepaeck service. If you send luggage before 9 am, then after 6 pm it will be delivered to its destination. By the way, bicycles cannot be transported using this service. The cost of transportation is 21 EUR.

If you want to transport a bicycle in a train carriage, you need to buy a Velo-Tageskarte pass, which costs about 18 EUR. For short distances, such a ticket is cheaper and must be bought together with the ticket for the passenger. Also, the bike can be sent as unaccompanied baggage.

Ticket booking

Most itineraries do not require a mandatory reservation. However, when traveling on panoramic, international, as well as some domestic flights, you still need to make a ticket reserve.

Buying tickets

We sorted out all the nuances regarding trains, tariffs, travel features. And so my story comes to an end. And in parting, I will tell you about several options for buying tickets.

At the register

Since I “do not speak languages,” I always write notes to cashiers with directions, travel dates, and tariffs. In Switzerland, it is quite possible to do without it. Cashiers speak several languages, including English. And even if you do not shine with knowledge, cashiers will still understand you. That's how smart they are! They look at something on their computers, select flights, give a schedule, draw diagrams so that tourists understand where to go. In general, you will not be left without a ticket. You will be selected the most profitable travel option and provided with all the necessary information.

In the machine

Personally, I do not like to buy tickets through various machines. Childhood trauma, so to speak. More than ten years ago, I opened some junior card in a bank, and on the same day it was swallowed by an ATM. I decided to fill the grief and buy hot chocolate from the vending machine. This miracle of robotics took money from me, but somehow it didn’t work out with the issuance of a drink. Since then, I have a biased attitude towards all such machines. But if necessary, I can quite get along with them. I'll tell you how you can buy tickets at SBB machines.

The first step is to choose the most convenient language. Welcome and let's move on!

A screen appears with the most popular stations and ticket types. If the desired station is in the list, click on the corresponding button.

If it is not there, you need to click on Alternstive connections. A keyboard will appear, and you need to start typing the desired name on it. When the desired station name appears, the available route is displayed. As you can see, in my example, this is Bern-Zurich.

On the right, there are possible transfer options.

When you have chosen a convenient transfer option, you also need to decide whether you need a one-way or round-trip ticket.

And decide with the choice of the class of the car. Well, there is nothing to think about, we take the second one. We save.

Now you need to choose a discount and the number of seats. The options on the left, labeled 1/2, are half price. They are suitable for children, dogs and owners of various discount cards. On the right are options without discounts for adult passengers.

And your last step is to verify the data you entered and pay for the ticket.

As you can see, there is nothing complicated. But now you are sitting at home, comfortably seated on an armchair, tea, you see, drinking. And there, at the station, the conditions are far from being so comfortable, and from surprise or even fright, you can forget everything that I told you here. To prevent this from happening, knowledge must be consolidated in practice. Here is a simulator that will help you practice buying a ticket so that you are already fully equipped at the station and get it in 60 seconds!

Through the SBB website

Well, I don't like their website. And, by the way, there are no objective reasons for that. Probably I was so captivated by the cashiers that I absolutely do not want to bother shopping over the Internet. But some ticket options are not available at the box office, so you still have to master the Swiss railway website.

On the main page, enter information about the route and departure time. Next, you need to click Search connection.

Now we have a list of flights. No, not just a list of flights! And all the information about them, up to which platform the train leaves from. It’s really convenient, respect to the railway workers, you don’t need to spend time thinking about whether to make cheese sandwiches on the road or you can go to dinner in the dining car. For more information, you need to click on the plus sign, which I marked with an arrow. When pressed, the icon turns into a minus, and all the necessary information appears in front of the buyer. Having decided on the flight, you need to click on Fare / Buy.

Next, a page appears on which you need to select your preferred class of carriage and type of ticket - one way or both at once. It is also necessary to indicate the first and last name, date of birth. At this step, you can add other passengers. Pay attention to the column Reduction. If you have a fare discount or you are traveling with a child, you can select the desired discount option from the drop-down list. Click on Next.

On this page you are offered to buy additional tickets, for example, to move around the city. If needed, add to cart. Go ahead.

Here you need to register, log in or continue without registration. Select the latest option and click Next.

Now they are prompted to enter the number of the discount voucher. I wish there was one more... If it is not there, then just skip this block and click on Continue shopping.

You choose the most convenient option for making a payment transaction and transfer the required amount. The ticket will be sent to your email and you need to print it. By the way, you can also make a purchase through a mobile application. But just what will you show the controller on the train if your smartphone runs out of power? Don't forget to take this into account.

***

Enjoy! What else can I tell you? Traveling to Switzerland will be one of the most colorful moments of your life! And the railway, as you already understood, only contributes to a wonderful holiday.

As a child, I was very fond of German-made toy railways, and even was the proud owner of several trains, plastic houses and a box of rails. The Germans produced scale copies of only their German trains, so I got an idea about western railways much earlier than I could see them with my own eyes. And railway models were popular in all sorts of toy stores and at exhibitions. I remember one such layout very well, it was in the Transport pavilion at VDNKh, it is still terribly interesting what happened to it after the transformation of the grandiose all-Union exhibition into a grandiose flea market. In the place where that huge stand with this layout stood in the 80s, Chinese radiotelephones were traded in the 90s. In general, I have a strong association with Swiss Railways with such models, especially when you look at them from somewhere above: the same neat bridges, dollhouses and hills with miniature cows grazing on them. And almost the same, albeit more modern trains. Actually, the picture to attract attention speaks for itself.

The railway network in Switzerland is quite dense. The main operator is SBB, which has been operating since 1902, before which private companies and cantonal administrations were engaged in railway construction and transportation. SBB is not the only operator: there are several dozen private companies that account for 13% of passenger traffic, and operators from neighboring countries also work on international routes.

01. Board at the train station in Geneva.

02. Regional train. It is noteworthy that such trains are driven by a locomotive located in front of the train, and the rear car has its own control cabin for movement in the opposite direction without rearranging the locomotive. A slightly unusual picture for a traveler from Russia, but quite common for most European railways.

03. Regional train (Regional Express) is an analogue of our Russian suburban express train, moving faster than ordinary commuter trains and making fewer stops along the route.

04. Intercity high-speed train (Intercity Express) model RABDe 500. Such trains stop only in large settlements and reach speeds of up to 200 km / h. We have their analogues - Sapsan and Allegro. This train was developed with the participation of the leading companies Alstom, Bombardier and SBB, Italian specialists from Pinifarina worked on the design. The train has an inclined body system to handle curves without slowing down. I noticed that many trains have their own names, this one, for example Graf Zeppelin.

05. Suburban train of the Flirt family of the Swiss company Stadler. Recently, a batch of such trains was released for the Belarusian Railways,.

06. Luggage storage on the platform of the Geneva station.

07. Ticket validators.

08. Short platform for a couple of wagons. Since nothing arrived here during the hour of my train spotting, and the scoreboard remained empty, it was not possible to determine which trains come to it.

09. Another Intercity Express. Double decker. In it, as well as there are children's playgrounds "TickiPark".

10. And the same as for regional trains: an electric locomotive on one side, and on the other end of the train a car with a control cabin.

11. Left.

12. Intercity express train from France of the Coradia Duplex family, operated by SNCF. High-speed TGVs from Paris also stop here, but, unfortunately, I didn’t come across them. Such trains arrive on a separate platform, on which there are even remains of the barriers of the border control zone that worked here until the borders within Europe became transparent.

13. Here you can just see a piece of these barriers on the platform. You can also notice an icon indicating that a TGV that I never caught stops on this platform. Someday I will go and shoot a series of reports about them).

14. Shot taken from the tower of the cathedral in Bern. Intercity Express on the bridge over the Aru.

15. ETR 610 "Cisalpino Due" of the Pendolino family. High speed intercity train. I only got hit once. Probably rare.

16. And here is one of the trains of the private railway company BOB (Berner Oberland Bahn). Filmed somewhere in the Interlaken area. This is one of the narrow gauge lines. Such railways not only connect small towns, but are also a popular attraction for tourists, as they pass through the most picturesque regions of Switzerland.

17. Some of these lines are generally isolated from the rest, such as, for example, this line of the BLM company (Bergbahn Lauterbrunnen-Mürren) passing through the highlands between the small alpine towns of Gruntshalp and Mürren in the Interlaken region. The line has a length of only 7 kilometers, on especially steep slopes on such mountain roads, gear guides are installed between the rails, allowing trains to overcome them. Trains have a special mechanism for this. The shortest of these railways is only 4 kilometers long, while the longest is 384 kilometers long. And the road with the steepest slopes is located on Mount Pilatus near Lucerne, it has gear guides for almost its entire length.

18. Installation at the station in Lucerne.

19. On the left is the SBB train, on the right is the Intercity Express of the private company BLS. Station Lucerne.

20. One of the most common old Re 420 class locomotives.

21. Suburban.

22. Suburban company BLS, Flirt family.

23. Dead-end prism at the station in Lucerne.

24. Train station in Lucerne: neither get poisoned with shawarma, nor buy a pirated disc, nor throw away a trifle for a homeless person). Although not, shawarma, perhaps, can be found in a civilized station restaurant, only it is called kebab there.

25. Depot in Lucerne. Passenger's view from the train window.

26. Hey, wait, weekday evening, commuter train, direction from the city to the region. Why is no one pushing and preventing me from taking off an empty car? Where is the crowd? Where are all those office hamsters with gloomy faces, sleeping or dejectedly poking at iPads, on the way from work to a distant sweet home on the outskirts of the region ??)))

27. On the way from Lucerne to Brunnen, I was once again surprised at how small the world is, accidentally chatting with a Russian woman who, as it turned out, once lived in Moscow, almost nearby, on Sokol, and even has a dacha in Povarovo, where is my uncle's cottage!

28. Brunnen station, commuter train. In general, I had to be a passenger of the Swiss railways only a couple of times, and not for a long time, which is probably not enough for a full description from this point of view. I can only say that the railways are comfortable, the trains are fast and clean - European passengers are not fond of destroying them and do not litter, unlike some Russian ones.

29. Due to several railway companies with different types of trains and classes of their cars, as well as many directions departing from the central station of Lucerne, I could not immediately find the train I needed in the electronic ticket sales terminal.

30. Calm at Brunnen station. It is getting dark, ISO is rising, but true spotters should not be disturbed by such trifles).

31. Yes, and “in the wiring” it became easier to shoot).

32. Suddenly a speedboat flew by.

33. Commuter train to Lucerne.

34. In the evening, passenger traffic thinned out a lot, but commodity traffic went. They are operated in Switzerland by a subsidiary of SBB Cargo. And they really go mainly at night, apparently, so as not to interfere with high-speed trains. In Switzerland, for the transportation of goods, there is also such an interesting service as the "Running Highway". The country is located in the center of Europe, and there has always been increased cargo traffic through it. Trucks occupied roads, puffed exhausts, got into accidents and got stuck on mountain passes, and at some point the government solved this problem by launching special trains with platforms for trucks and containers. Thus, now 70% of freight traffic is accounted for by railways.

In one of the following posts I will show the smallest city in the world that has a subway.
Do you love trains as much as I do?

Journey to Switzerland, previous series.

Swiss railways have the name SBB-CFF-FFS, which is three separate abbreviations in German, French and Italian, which translates to "Swiss State Railway Company". During the 19th century, there was no single company, and all sections of the railways across the country were privately owned by various companies, which led to constant competition between them and the indiscriminate construction of new tracks throughout the country, sometimes even duplicating existing ones.

It was extremely difficult for the state to nationalize the railways due to the country's highly developed antitrust requirements, but in 1898, by popular vote, the state managed to take control of all companies, which led to the creation in 1902 of a national railway corporation under the full control of the state. Since 1919, active electrification of the tracks began, and in 1999 the government again lost control over the railways, and the company was transformed into a joint-stock company, but the shares are under strict state control.

But unlike other countries, a private railway company remained in Switzerland - the Rhaetian railway with a narrow gauge, connecting the most picturesque corners of the country - the ski resort towns of Davos and St. Moritz.

Switzerland has a unique relief - a huge part of the country is cut by the high Alps, which has led to the fact that a large length of the railway tracks have steep ascents and descents. For the safety of passengers and the technical possibility of lifting between the main rails, a third one is laid - with teeth, for which the cogwheels of the train cling, pushing it up. Such a rack railway is arranged on almost every steep rise in the country.

Contact information for Swiss Railways

Swiss Railways - official site, content is presented in 4 most popular languages ​​- English, German, French and Italian for ease of use by guests from anywhere in Europe. The content of the site includes information about the company, types of trains and classes of service, a set of bonus offers, timetables, and also makes it possible to book the required tickets. The site does not have a version in Russian.

SBB-CFF-FFS passengers can use any of the numerous contact numbers provided by the company to get answers to all their questions:

• +41-848-44-66-88 - multi-channel hotline telephone, around the clock.
• By clicking on the link, customers can leave feedback, complaints and suggestions, leaving their contact details.
• +41-51-229-61-61 - internal police service phone in case of emergency.

The company's headquarters is located in Bern at Hilfikerstrasse 1
3000 Bern 65.

Note! Swiss railways does not have representative offices in Russia, but anyone who speaks any of the 4 languages ​​presented on the site can use all content services, book and buy a ticket from anywhere in the world where there is Internet access.

Train types and levels of service on Swiss Railways

Every year, millions of tourists and citizens of the country use the developed network of railway roads in Switzerland. SBB-CFF-FFS, investing more than 1 billion Swiss francs in the development of the network, has in its depots a wide variety of trains that meet the needs of each passenger.

• Giruno is a new high-speed train with 405 seats, running from Basel to Zurich and south of the country to Milan. The train has a WiFi zone, a conference room, a bistro restaurant, bathrooms, a quiet area, a place for luggage and bicycles.
• LD double-decker is a high-speed double-decker train for domestic traffic, routes run from Zurich to Geneva via Bern and Basel. The number of seats is 200, the amenities are the same as in Gurino, except for the presence of a panoramic area that allows you to enjoy the picturesque views during the trip.
• The ETR-610 is a popular 430-seat high-speed train that carries passengers between the largest cities in the country and to Italy, has a separate family area with an equipped children's room, but does not have a quiet area.
• The ICN is a capacious high-speed train with almost 500 seats, including both a family and a quiet zone, which transports within Switzerland.
• IC2000 is a standard train with two decks and 1st and 2nd class of service, has a full range of amenities and a panoramic upper level, including a restaurant on the second floor of one of the cars.
• Standard couch IV / Eurocity - has 60 seats in each car, carries passengers throughout the country, has a full range of services for passengers, like the Gurino train.
• Flirt - Commuter train serving passengers around Bern, Zurich and Geneva.
• The Regio double-decker is a two-level commuter train running between Bern and Zurich with a capacity of 535 people and a minimum set of features for passenger comfort.
• Domino, GTW, DPZ, DTZ are suburban express trains for various destinations within the country.

Each high-speed train, as well as trains for transporting passengers across the country and abroad, have 2 classes of service - 2nd economy class and 1st business class, the differences between which are the comfort of seats during the trip and the level of service and food for passengers . Each train, regardless of class, has a high-quality finish, an internal climate system and LCD displays in each car, which display travel information.

Many places are equipped with sockets for the convenience of using mobile computers and charging phones, and each car is equipped with a place for attaching wheelchairs for the disabled.

Map of the main routes on Swiss Railways

Due to the presence of a developed railway scheme, as well as a huge number of passengers - about 1 million per day, in combination with the central location of the country on the European continent, SBB-CFF-FFS have a developed map of destinations both within the country and abroad:

• Along the country's southern border with Italy and France.
• Between the main cities - Zurich, Lausanne, Bern, Basel and Geneva.
• International routes to Italy to Milan, Austria to Innsbruck and Vaduz, France to Annecy and Paris, and Germany to Munich.

Movement on each of the routes is carried out at least once a day, which is very convenient for passengers when planning trips.

Booking tickets and basic fares on Swiss Railways

The main tariffs offered by the company for the convenience of travelers:

• Individual - standard rate, booked in advance, refundable, with a service charge.
• Supersaver - the highest discounts on specific travel dates offered by the company.
• A one-day subscription is convenient for tourists who are going to use the train several times within one day, it makes it possible to use the railway services an unlimited number of times for one price.
• First class - the best seats and service during the trip.
• Group - up to 20% savings on a one-time purchase of tickets by a group of more than 10 people.
• Children - big discounts, up to 100%, for passengers with children, regardless of whether they take a seat or not.

Swiss Railways gives you the opportunity to choose any way of booking and redeeming a train ticket for your customers:

• At the box office at stations or train stations throughout the country (ticket sale).
• In specialized terminals for automatic ticket sales (ticket vending machine).
• Online on the site via the link for visitors who speak one of the 4 proposed languages. Payment can be made by debit or credit card.
• The hotline phone will connect the passenger to the ticket booking department.
• By installing a special mobile application on a smartphone or tablet and further registration in it.
• In travel companies around the world who can act as an agent for their clients.

Despite the fact that Switzerland is a very conservative country and so far all the old cars from the century before last have not been disposed of, but continue to either be used on special routes or turned into museums on wheels.

Advanced technology, combined with huge annual investments, is rapidly developing SBB-CFF-FFS, putting it at the forefront of competitors from other European countries.